Caulk The Siding Behind The J

A diyer or a novice painter might attempt to achieve a cleaner look by caulking the siding nails but the nail is guaranteed to push the caulking material out within a few months.

Caulk the siding behind the j.

And many homeowners over caulk applying caulk where it doesn t belong and potentially compromising the performance of their siding. I have had to do quite a few repairs due to this and it is even worse when caulk was applied to j channel applied to a dormer along a roof. When searching for the right kind of caulk for your exterior siding quality is obviously important as with any home improvement project cheaper does not always mean better. Another item that needs room to play is siding boards themselves.

In addition there are several other factors to keep in mind when choosing the right caulk for your siding. Caulking can be placed behind the j channel during installation sealing the seam between the j channel and the house wrap also sealing the seam between the j channel and the window itself. Wherever hardie siding meets a trim board the company recommends you leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim and apply a 3 8 bead of approved caulking to protect and seal the edge of the siding. Caulking your home s siding is a simple process but not necessarily a foolproof one.

Yeah i was just worried about if it rains from a certain angle it s going to you know wick down through that gap and then run behind the siding. The nails holding up the siding should not be caulked. And you generally don t have to caulk between the back of the j channel and the side of the window. But if done incorrectly it can lend a sloppy amateurish look.

Caulk is by necessity a sticky gooey substance and as such it smudges easily. Caulking windows to give them a finished look inside and out and seal out leaks and drafts is a fairly common diy task.